Comments on: Kids + Social Networks = Learning (?) http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: No Matter, There » So, are you going to be a secret agent? http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-11378 No Matter, There » So, are you going to be a secret agent? Mon, 22 Jan 2007 02:50:35 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-11378 [...] Will Richardson’s timely post about setting up an account at “Club Penguin” for his children helped me realize that I had recently heard some fifth graders mention it.  Then, my husband  heard a public radio story about it and thought he had heard about 3rd party ads aimed at the kids (there are none!).  Having a child with a birthday this weekend…I took a free penguin for a test spin, and learned enough to decide to give my 3rd grader a club penguin account as a gift.    [...] [...] Will Richardson’s timely post about setting up an account at “Club Penguin” for his children helped me realize that I had recently heard some fifth graders mention it.  Then, my husband  heard a public radio story about it and thought he had heard about 3rd party ads aimed at the kids (there are none!).  Having a child with a birthday this weekend…I took a free penguin for a test spin, and learned enough to decide to give my 3rd grader a club penguin account as a gift.    [...]

]]> By: Rick http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10545 Rick Mon, 15 Jan 2007 18:48:36 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10545 My district currently blocks MySpace and other social sites. As well it should. I do think there are some benefits to utilizing the web for social networking, though. I just posted a way in which schools could take a MySpace-like approach to allowing students and educators to interact with one another, while ensuring student safety. My district currently blocks MySpace and other social sites. As well it should. I do think there are some benefits to utilizing the web for social networking, though. I just posted a way in which schools could take a MySpace-like approach to allowing students and educators to interact with one another, while ensuring student safety.

]]> By: John Blake http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10498 John Blake Sat, 13 Jan 2007 21:42:34 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10498 "In this tragic case it was the sheriff's department that found the photo. In your case, or the case of your children, it may be a potential employer. That college degree mom and dad just paid for is great, but a lot of good it will do when you apply for that first job. Remember, most companies have a policy: "fools need not apply."... Read what the Editorial of a Wilmington, NC TV station has to say about Social Networks. He addresses Social Networkings reported influence on the actions of the police department as they investigated the theft of a Sony PS3 and the fatal shooting of a suspect and his dog. I think the editorial could add weight to need for teaching students about the ethical use of social networking. http://www.wect.com/global/story.asp?s=5930875&ClientType=Printable “In this tragic case it was the sheriff’s department that found the photo. In your case, or the case of your children, it may be a potential employer. That college degree mom and dad just paid for is great, but a lot of good it will do when you apply for that first job. Remember, most companies have a policy: “fools need not apply.”… Read what the Editorial of a Wilmington, NC TV station has to say about Social Networks. He addresses Social Networkings reported influence on the actions of the police department as they investigated the theft of a Sony PS3 and the fatal shooting of a suspect and his dog. I think the editorial could add weight to need for teaching students about the ethical use of social networking.
http://www.wect.com/global/story.asp?s=5930875&ClientType=Printable

]]> By: Teaching Better With Web 2.0 » Social Networks too Scary for School? http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10497 Teaching Better With Web 2.0 » Social Networks too Scary for School? Sat, 13 Jan 2007 20:27:34 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10497 [...] Will Richardson makes some good arguments that more needs to be done (Kids + Social Networks = Learning?). He advocates a policy that goes beyond blocking to educating. Most importantly, he advocates teaching students about the good that social networks have to offer: [...] [...] Will Richardson makes some good arguments that more needs to be done (Kids + Social Networks = Learning?). He advocates a policy that goes beyond blocking to educating. Most importantly, he advocates teaching students about the good that social networks have to offer: [...]

]]> By: Randy Rodgers http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10496 Randy Rodgers Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:55:24 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10496 Thanks for the link to Club Penguin. I've been looking for new social networks for children. One I like, as well, is www.Whyville.net. It encourages self-monitoring and reporting of inappropriate behavior. Of course, for this to work, students must first know what constitutes appropriate/inappropriate online behavior. We are focusing on educating parents, and will be hosting 3 web safety meetings this spring. I attended a session on web safety this past summer that included an officer from the Texas Attorney General's Internet Task Force and a rep from www.netsmartz.org. They both emphasized the importance of training students, but they also stressed the need for parents/teachers to monitor students' use of social networks/blogs extensively. Parents and teachers must know logins/passwords and make frequent, unannounced visits to kids' pages to make sure they are following the rules they have been taught. This isn't invading privacy, either--it's responsible parenting/teaching. Kern stated: "We are currently having a group of high school students develop our districts policy. They have been very mature and understanding about what should and should not be accessible." I like this. We also had a group of students help devise our district's acceptable use policy, and their input was valuable, and, at times, very enlightening (even shocking). Great idea. Thanks for the link to Club Penguin. I’ve been looking for new social networks for children. One I like, as well, is http://www.Whyville.net. It encourages self-monitoring and reporting of inappropriate behavior. Of course, for this to work, students must first know what constitutes appropriate/inappropriate online behavior. We are focusing on educating parents, and will be hosting 3 web safety meetings this spring. I attended a session on web safety this past summer that included an officer from the Texas Attorney General’s Internet Task Force and a rep from http://www.netsmartz.org. They both emphasized the importance of training students, but they also stressed the need for parents/teachers to monitor students’ use of social networks/blogs extensively. Parents and teachers must know logins/passwords and make frequent, unannounced visits to kids’ pages to make sure they are following the rules they have been taught. This isn’t invading privacy, either–it’s responsible parenting/teaching.

Kern stated:
“We are currently having a group of high school students develop our districts policy. They have been very mature and understanding about what should and should not be accessible.”

I like this. We also had a group of students help devise our district’s acceptable use policy, and their input was valuable, and, at times, very enlightening (even shocking). Great idea.

]]> By: Jamie Tubbs http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10455 Jamie Tubbs Sat, 13 Jan 2007 03:01:44 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10455 This February I'll be attending the eTech Conference that you'll presenting at. I'm bringing a group of students to set up a student display called "Blogging Across the Curriculum." Make a point to stop by and ask them what they've been doing with blogs in my classroom. They recently have started embedding videos from YouTube and Metacafe in their entries. Unfortunately, they must do this at home since they can't access these sites at school due to the filter. In your words, I think they've really learned to leverage these tools. I just posted links to entries from the five kids who'll be going to Columbus on my blog. Check them out, they're awesome! JTubbs misterteacher.blogspot.com This February I’ll be attending the eTech Conference that you’ll presenting at. I’m bringing a group of students to set up a student display called “Blogging Across the Curriculum.” Make a point to stop by and ask them what they’ve been doing with blogs in my classroom.

They recently have started embedding videos from YouTube and Metacafe in their entries. Unfortunately, they must do this at home since they can’t access these sites at school due to the filter. In your words, I think they’ve really learned to leverage these tools.

I just posted links to entries from the five kids who’ll be going to Columbus on my blog. Check them out, they’re awesome!

JTubbs
misterteacher.blogspot.com

]]> By: Mr. Mills Blog » Back into the Swing of Things http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10447 Mr. Mills Blog » Back into the Swing of Things Fri, 12 Jan 2007 19:27:30 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10447 [...] Back into the Swing of Things First, I wanted to share an article that, once again, supports using the Internet and teaching your child to use it responsibly. Even though we are afraid of Internet predators and the use of MySpace, why not show your child how to use it responsibly instead of immediately disallowing it in your house. I’m a big proponent of not being afraid of this new technology and finding ways to embrace rather than to push it away. [...] [...] Back into the Swing of Things First, I wanted to share an article that, once again, supports using the Internet and teaching your child to use it responsibly. Even though we are afraid of Internet predators and the use of MySpace, why not show your child how to use it responsibly instead of immediately disallowing it in your house. I’m a big proponent of not being afraid of this new technology and finding ways to embrace rather than to push it away. [...]

]]> By: Kern http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10440 Kern Fri, 12 Jan 2007 13:48:00 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10440 We are currently having a group of high school students develop our districts policy. They have been very mature and understanding about what should and should not be accessible. We are currently having a group of high school students develop our districts policy. They have been very mature and understanding about what should and should not be accessible.

]]> By: School's E-safety http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10438 School's E-safety Fri, 12 Jan 2007 12:22:22 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10438 <strong>Interesting Blog post - 'Kids + Social Networks = Learning?'...</strong> I came across this post on a blog I subscribe to. Its about social networks and their use (or lack...... Interesting Blog post – ‘Kids + Social Networks = Learning?’…

I came across this post on a blog I subscribe to. Its about social networks and their use (or lack……

]]> By: Beth http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10421 Beth Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:17:18 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10421 I have two kids a son age 9 and daughter age 13. We actually have a Family AUP - which basically says I pay for the access and I can take it away - kind of what what most business tell their employees, though I can not fire my kids though the thought has crossed my mind. We set down together to lay out what was acceptable and why and what was not. Then we wrote it up. We just re-did my 13 year old's as she now uses more IM and online chats. My son has a club penguin account along with all his cousins who live in many states. It was his first introduction to that sort of thing. He now plays World of Warcraft along with Dad and his sister, all three now run their old guilds and are learning collaborative and leadership skills. The kids are learning to blog on the private family blog. Each week or so they write a post to share with the extended family. Just today my son asked if he could start reading other blogs about gaming and game design. Maybe it is time to redo his AUP. I have two kids a son age 9 and daughter age 13. We actually have a Family AUP – which basically says I pay for the access and I can take it away – kind of what what most business tell their employees, though I can not fire my kids though the thought has crossed my mind. We set down together to lay out what was acceptable and why and what was not. Then we wrote it up. We just re-did my 13 year old’s as she now uses more IM and online chats.

My son has a club penguin account along with all his cousins who live in many states. It was his first introduction to that sort of thing. He now plays World of Warcraft along with Dad and his sister, all three now run their old guilds and are learning collaborative and leadership skills.

The kids are learning to blog on the private family blog. Each week or so they write a post to share with the extended family. Just today my son asked if he could start reading other blogs about gaming and game design. Maybe it is time to redo his AUP.

]]> By: Signy http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10419 Signy Thu, 11 Jan 2007 20:28:51 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10419 I have no policy yet, because I have no kids yet, but boy, you have me thinking. And this is not something that you want to wait to do your thinking until it comes to you. Thanks for being a stand for caring for and our responsibility to the next generation! I have no policy yet, because I have no kids yet, but boy, you have me thinking. And this is not something that you want to wait to do your thinking until it comes to you. Thanks for being a stand for caring for and our responsibility to the next generation!

]]> By: Carolyn Foote http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-10410 Carolyn Foote Thu, 11 Jan 2007 13:02:48 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/kids-social-networks-learning/#comment-10410 This reminded me that I had just read about YALSA's Myspace page somewhere yesterday. Yalsa is the Young Adult Librarian division of ALA. http://www.myspace.com/yalsa They also have links to other libraries with teen myspace pages, including one where we live, which I wasn't aware of. I noticed none of those featured were school libraries. I'd like to put a link to the local library's on my website but it's blocked at school(as you mentioned). I think I will link it anyway, so that students can use it from home. I noticed that one of the libraries featured, the Plano Library (www.myspace.planoteens), did have a "caveat" statement that students should stay safe online when leaving their site, and they linked to some internet safety sites. That seems more in keeping with teaching students/teens to think about what they are doing online than disallowing social networking tools. I have some mixed feelings about Myspace but I defeinitely see the point of libraries having a presence there. But I do believe we can't be credible or teach our students about safety if we don't have access to teach them. As David Jakes said at Tech Forum Austin, you don't teach students to cross the street on a "fake" street. And being hit by a car is dangerous. At our campus, there is much more frustration of not being able to use tools like Google Video and YouTube. We had an issue with blogs earlier in the summer, but managed to get that resolved in a constructive way and several of us are blogging. I think having organizations like NSBA weigh in will be helpful to districts trying to be supportive of a more open process. This reminded me that I had just read about YALSA’s Myspace page somewhere yesterday. Yalsa is the Young Adult Librarian division of ALA.

http://www.myspace.com/yalsa

They also have links to other libraries with teen myspace pages, including one where we live, which I wasn’t aware of. I noticed none of those featured were school libraries. I’d like to put a link to the local library’s on my website but it’s blocked at school(as you mentioned). I think I will link it anyway, so that students can use it from home.

I noticed that one of the libraries featured, the Plano Library (www.myspace.planoteens), did have a “caveat” statement that students should stay safe online when leaving their site, and they linked to some internet safety sites. That seems more in keeping with teaching students/teens to think about what they are doing online than disallowing social networking tools.

I have some mixed feelings about Myspace but I defeinitely see the point of libraries having a presence there. But I do believe we can’t be credible or teach our students about safety if we don’t have access to teach them. As David Jakes said at Tech Forum Austin, you don’t teach students to cross the street on a “fake” street.
And being hit by a car is dangerous.

At our campus, there is much more frustration of not being able to use tools like Google Video and YouTube. We had an issue with blogs earlier in the summer, but managed to get that resolved in a constructive way and several of us are blogging.

I think having organizations like NSBA weigh in will be helpful to districts trying to be supportive of a more open process.

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